San Leandro Stake

I have enjoyed reading and pondering the words from President Nelson's prayer from his message on 11/20/20.

Global faith leader Russell M. Nelson, President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, shares the way you can find hope and healingno matter your circumstances. #GiveThanks

For the next seven days, flood social media with a wave of gratitude using the hashtag #GiveThanks. Gratitude is a fast-acting and long-lasting spiritual pre...scription that soothes us from sorrow and sadness. Earlier today, global faith leader and prophet President Russell M. Nelson of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints shared how you can experience its healing power: I invite you to turn social media into your own personal gratitude journal. Post every day about what you are grateful for, who you are grateful for, and why you are grateful. At the end of seven days, see if you feel happier and more at peace. Watch President Nelson’s full message at PowerofGratitude.org See more

Elder Ronald A. Rasband of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and Sister Melanie Rasband invite young adults worldwide to join them September 13 at 5:00pm for a live Face to Face broadcast. You can view through facebook live, youtube or at https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/broadcasts All young adults (ages 18 through 30), whether single or married; full-time missionaries; and students who will be finishing high school or the equivalent by the end of 2020 are invited to participate as well as invite their young adult friends who are not of our faith to join them. According to Elder Rasband, the broadcast is an opportunity for many young adults to introduce their friends to the glorious light of the restored gospel."

Sisters and Brothers of the San Leandro Stake I have watched the protests and marches about racial prejudice and injustice of recent days with a mixture of sadness and awe. My heart aches for those who are victims of racism and prejudice, but I’m also encouraged by the strength, resilience and resolve of so many people of all backgrounds who are united in their desire and efforts to peacefully end racism and prejudice. I applaud, support and want to be part of that noble ef...fort, and I condemn racism in all its forms. Whatever justifications people make for racist and unloving attitudes and behaviors, they can be likened to those of the priest and the Levite who saw a suffering man on the road and crossed to the other side to avoid him rather than stopping to help him (See Luke 10:25-37). It may help each of us to imagine ourselves on the road as the wounded man, imagining the hurt and sadness he must have felt as his supposedly righteous neighbors did all they could to avoid him. Such a realization may have brought as much pain as the beating he had suffered. The Samaritan who helped apparently had no relationship with the wounded man other than their common lineage as children of God, which was more than enough for him to give generously of his time, energy and money so that his brother could be returned to health. In a recent social media post, President Russell M. Nelson stated, The Creator of us all calls on each of us to abandon attitudes of prejudice against any group of God’s children. Any of us who has prejudice toward another race needs to repent! I am learning each day that I may not be as enlightened or loving as I need to be or sometimes imagine myself to be. Sincere repentance means accepting truth and then acting in support of truth. My hope, my prayer and my invitation to each member of the San Leandro Stake is that we will repent and act in neighborly, empathetic love for everyone around us with celebration instead of condemnation of any differences we may have. Chuck Harlow San Leandro Stake President

Last week we hosted a successful blood drive. 45 volunteers (12 first time donors) donated 36 units of blood! Did you know one donation can potentially save up to 3 lives. We are grateful for their service and we look forward to the next San Leandro Stake blood drive on Thursday, July 2nd, in Castro Valley. We hope to see you there!

Sisters and Brothers of the San Leandro Stake I have watched the protests and marches about racial prejudice and injustice of recent days with a mixture of sadness and awe. My heart aches for those who are victims of racism and prejudice, but I’m also encouraged by the strength, resilience and resolve of so many people of all backgrounds who are united in their desire and efforts to peacefully end racism and prejudice. I applaud, support and want to be part of that noble ef...fort, and I condemn racism in all its forms. Whatever justifications people make for racist and unloving attitudes and behaviors, they can be likened to those of the priest and the Levite who saw a suffering man on the road and crossed to the other side to avoid him rather than stopping to help him (See Luke 10:25-37). It may help each of us to imagine ourselves on the road as the wounded man, imagining the hurt and sadness he must have felt as his supposedly righteous neighbors did all they could to avoid him. Such a realization may have brought as much pain as the beating he had suffered. The Samaritan who helped apparently had no relationship with the wounded man other than their common lineage as children of God, which was more than enough for him to give generously of his time, energy and money so that his brother could be returned to health. In a recent social media post, President Russell M. Nelson stated, The Creator of us all calls on each of us to abandon attitudes of prejudice against any group of God’s children. Any of us who has prejudice toward another race needs to repent! I am learning each day that I may not be as enlightened or loving as I need to be or sometimes imagine myself to be. Sincere repentance means accepting truth and then acting in support of truth. My hope, my prayer and my invitation to each member of the San Leandro Stake is that we will repent and act in neighborly, empathetic love for everyone around us with celebration instead of condemnation of any differences we may have. Chuck Harlow San Leandro Stake President

The local congregations of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints previously funded a trailer worth of food to support the Alameda County Community Food Bank, establishing a relationship that opened the door to fulfill specific needs for the food bank during COVID-19. After schools closed, the food bank began providing schools in the community with food for students participating in the school food programs. Since many families rely on those meals, the demand on the ...food bank was overwhelming. The church’s support helped provide essential food for the food bank so students in our communities can continue to be fed. We’re grateful for our partnership with the Alameda County Community Food Bank and for the opportunity to help the families in our community! @alamedacountycommunityfoodbank @accfb #sanleandrostake #thechurchofjesuschristoflatterdaysaints #alamedacountycommunityfoodbank

If you are interested in volunteering this Saturday, please contact Adam Brown.

President Russell M. Nelson introduced The Restoration of the Fulness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ: A Bicentennial Proclamation to the World at #GeneralConference this morning. https://newsroom.churchofjesuschrist.org//restoration-proc

Resources for General Conference PREPARE - How President Nelson Has Invited Us to Prepare: Study Joseph Smith's account of the First Vision as recorded in the Pearl of Great Price. More resources at Restoration.ChurchofJesusChrist.org.... Ponder questions like "How would my life be different if my knowledge gained from the Book of Mormon were suddenly taken away?" or "How have the events that followed the First Vision made a difference for me and my loved ones?" Select your own questions. Design your own plan. Take steps to hear the Savior better and more often. For ideas, visit HearHim.ChurchofJesusChrist.org. To the sisters: Study prayerfully about the restoration of the priesthood and how to draw upon that power, beginning with reading Doctrine and Covenants sections 25, 84, and 107. Look for opportunities to share your feelings about the Lord Jesus Christ with your family and friends. WATCH - 5 Ways You Can Watch April 2020 General Conference from Anywhere: ONLINE: ChurchofJesusChrist.org; Church YouTube channel; BYUtv.org. MOBILE APP: Latter-day Saints Channel; YouTube; Gospel Library; BYUtv; KSL TV; KSL News Radio. TV: Roku Apple TV; Fire TV; Android TV; cable, television and satellite services. RADIO: BYU Radio; KSL News Radio; TuneIn (Canal Mormon in Spanish). SMART SPEAKER: Echo, Echo Dot, and Fire TV Cube ("play Saints Channel Talk" or for Spanish, "play Canal Mormon").

Sisters and Brothers of the San Leandro Stake: What an interesting time we live in! We're all trying to deal with the general busyness of life and its challenges, then along comes COVID-19. Now we're grappling with the additional challenges that stem from it: financial and economic uncertainty; job and housing insecurity; physical, mental and emotional health stresses; and, physical separation from family and friends. I wish I had all the answers and solutions to these issues..., but I don't; I wish I could provide them to you, but I can't. I can, however, testify that as each of us anchor our faith in the Savior Jesus Christ -- He who has overcome all challenges, all disappointments, all illnesses, all sin and all setbacks -- we are in the best and strongest position to weather any storm and to meet any difficulty. This weekend (Sat April 4 - Sun April 5), men and women we sustain as prophets and leaders of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints will speak to us during this time of uncertainty. I invite all to "Come, listen to a prophet's voice," (Hymns, no. 21) to hear the words of God, words that are intended for us, for this time, and for our circumstances. And, as we consider the blessings of the restoration of the truths of the Gospel, of priesthood authority, of church organization and structure, and of the Book of Mormon and modern day scripture, the Holy Ghost will help us discern truth from falsity, bring healing to our minds and bodies, and provide comfort to our hearts and souls. These are blessings we all need at this time. May God's peace be with you at this time is my deepest desire and prayer. - President Chuck Harlow

"I invite you to join with me in a worldwide fastfor all whose health permitsto pray for relief from the physical, emotional, and economic effects of this global pandemic. I invite members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints everywhere, along with our many friends, to fast and pray this Sunday, March 29." - President Russell M. Nelson

Photo Credit: Cerissa Mangrum Photography